pte

Cassandra tried very hard to spit out each word separ

sition with her upper arms resting on the table, her lower ones framing

his voice aske

ace down her arms, "Oh God, you're such an id

did yo

yes. "Please find someone else to have a crazy c

s to the lady who hastily left to go back to the counter. She savore

to you," the stranger said once again t

s or early thirties, his hair was brown and everywhere-it was like messy but not at all because it gave him a rugged-clean look. His nose was just perfect and his lips were just plain edible.

remembering what he said earlier about some of

y saying I have something to offer you becau

a choice? And what's your name

so their faces were inches apart. "And yes, you do

ee finally had its effect for her vision cleared

and leaned back against his chair and crossed his arms across h

d to rise up her gut. The mention of her father made her realize that the man sitting in

contract for some loan money in exc

nd were processed by her brain. When she finally decoded the message her jaw dropped and her mind tried to deny the information. Denial was fast to disappe

ward him. "As I've said, you don't have a choice here," P

hell what with the alcohol still lodged in her brain. With her piercing eyes s

tightened his grip instead of letting go. "But I'

me get sober so I could search for a law book or something and then I'

d quickly. Cassandra ignored him and ge took the opportunity to continue, saying, "If yo

hand but he was st

ou agree to

ten to any stupid th

g your father from sham

, I hate y

that

you. I h

may very well see, I don't need more money." He looked at her intently. "I need a

sly. Maybe she had too much to drink and she was ju

"But I'm not telling you that. Please sit down

'm lea

k I'm joking." There was something in the way he said it that made Cassandra believe every word. Reluctan

t's get this over with so I can go to the n

ement because he started his speech. "

she cut in. "Now, please

contract that the moment I transfer the money to his business account, I will have you as my wife in return." He held up his hand when she

she meant, he gave off a curt nod and she said, "How long do

ally, like he was reporting for some business associate

don't ma

ee, "your father will lose his business and end up with a bunch of le

y knowledge of business, she was very well aware that a written legal contra

ly wanted to fly to wherever he was and claw on his face for going too far. How could he do such

dreamin

ot. It's as r

he didn't want him to lose the business he had worked his sweat and blood for and she definitely d

ontinued, "You go talk to your father about this.

"Wedding...when..." she couldn't b

that, Philip Strindberg stood up and looked down at

till in a daze, she looked down at her half-empty cup of coffee, trying to think of every